Lago Vista ISD is grappling with controversy after a volunteer coach who was not properly vetted allegedly slapped student-athletes on the buttocks and interacted with them via personal communication. The issue, which came to light after parents made multiple claims against the coach, has led to the district acknowledging failures in its background check procedures. According to CBS Austin, the district failed to initiate a proper background check on the individual, who began associating with high school athletes during the summer of 2023.
The case unraveled when Lago Vista community members raised alarms after noticing the improper behavior. Despite the coach's history of criminal activity, no charges have been filed against him as of now. The report revealed at a recent board meeting, indicated that the man had inserted himself into school events and practices, offering his services as a private coach. "We do have a comprehensive list of backgrounds in our policies, communications culture that we do have to address. There were end-to-end failures, no doubt, and we do have to address them," Isai Arredondo, secretary for Place 3, told KVUE.
These allegations fueled widespread discussion in the community, particularly on social media platforms. In response, the district has convened a special review board, composed of board members, administrators, and community members, to address the breakdown in protocols and consider procedural changes. Furthermore, officials emphasized the need for increased training for both staff and students to effectively recognize and report warning signs of inappropriate behavior.
The Lago Vista community has remained vigilant in the wake of these findings. A concerned middle school mother, cited in the CBS Austin report, noted the significance of collective action, stating, "My son had multiple interactions with this man at various school sporting events and practices. It was only through the power of our community voice, specifically an anonymous post that I made on social media, that this issue was brought to light." The district has vowed to execute decisive actions to rectify identified deficiencies and to prioritize student safety moving forward.
In a statement to KVUE, the district expressed its commitment to improvement: "The third party investigative report has been thoroughly reviewed by our team, and we believe that the findings are appropriate. We are committed to taking decisive actions to rectify any deficiencies identified in the investigative findings." This matter has cemented the community's resolve to ensure a safer educational and extracurricular environment for students at Lago Vista ISD.
